Drag-link



- C. H. DE LAMONTE.

DRAG UNK. 4 APPLICATION FILED sEPT.1o. wld-.y

1,376,383. -Patent Apr,- 26, 1921.

A TTURNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

GASCIOUS H. DE LA MONTE, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DRAG-LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, CAscioUs H. DE LA MONTE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan of` the city of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drag-Links, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to thc accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

Thisl invention relates to an improved drag link construction in which there is interposed between the steering arm and the steering knuckle devices for yieldingly transmitting the steering effort. In accordance with this type of construction, which is now 'Well known, the steering arm is provided at its lower end with a ball which rests within sockets formed in springpressed blocks carried by the'drag link and the drag link may be connected yieldingly at its other end in some similar manner to the steering knuckle. The present invention relates to a simple and inexpensive construction by which the said blocks may be secured within the drag link in such manner as to prevent their rotation and yet permit their ready assembling and disassembling. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing for a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, in whicli-- Figure l is a view in longitudinal section of a drag link embodying the improvements, the steering arm and knuckle arm being shown in one relation to the link, although it is evident that whether one or both of these arms extend upwardly or downwardly from the link as viewed is immaterial to the invention.

Fig. is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-f2 of Fig. l. and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in plan taken along the plane indicated by the line 3m?, of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The link a, which may be tubular, is formed at one end with a chamber a. to receive socket blocks Zi, c, in the proximate ends of which are formed sockets to receive the ball d on the end of what may be considered a steering arm d. At the other end ofthe link a is formed a chamber ai to receive socket blocks e, f in the proximate ends of which are formed sockets t0 receive the ball g, on thc end of what may be .considered a knuckle arm g. `The sleeve a is formed with an opening a3 of suitable form and dimensions to receive the ball d andthe other sleeve a2 is formed with a similar opening a4 to receive the ball g. In the illustrated embodiment the parts are so constructed and related as to 'cushion the steering `effort when the link is moved longitudinally in one direction or the other. To this end the chamber a carries at one end, say, the inner end, a socket block b on the rear wall of which is formed a guide boss b" the opposite end walls of which are milled ofi', as at 712, b3, to present opposed flat faces. The boss b enters a socket member 7i which is of'such form as to conform to the cross-sectional shape and 4area of the sleeved and is preferably made up as-a stamping. In the form shown, this guide plate 7i has a central opening z and inturned ears h2 at the opposite sides of said openings to bear against the fiat faces b2, b3 of the boss At another section of the plate lz., as on its periphery, are struck inwardly extending lugs k3 which may rest in sockets a5 vformed in the end wall of the sleeve a. Between the rear wall of the block and the guide plate 7i is interposed operatively a spring z'. By the construction described it will be evident that the parts may be readily assembled. The plate h has the lugs 7b3 engaged'with the socketsv a5, the spring e' is then inserted and finally the block Z. is positioned with the milled faces 52, b3 resting within the central aperture 7i kin theplate 71, and engaging the flanges k2. This construction serves to permit axial movement of the block b and yet hold the block against rotation within ythe sleeve ci. The other block c may be threaded .in the end of the sleeve a" until the ball CZ is properly positioned between the two blocks Z, c when this block c may be locked in place by means of a stud k which passes through an annular clamp 7c embracing the outer wall of the sleeve a.' The stud [c rests on a flat milled surface c ot the block c, So as to hold the block against rotation.

The construction for transmitting the steering effort yieldiiigly from the drag link to the other arm g is somewhat similar to that described, but ditl'eis iii such respects as necessary tor a coinpleineiitai'y connection. At the other end of the drag link the block e conforming in cross sectional area and shape to the sleeve a2 is secured at the inner end of this sleeve in any convenient manner as by a tliioiigh-pin Z which may pass through the sleeve and the block. The other block f is yieldingly pressed against the ball g. This block f has a rearwardly extending boss f of reduced area and the rea-r end ot this boss is milled at opposite sides, as at f2, to present fiat faces, which are engaged by the straight sides m formed in an openingvm in a giiide'plate m2. This guide plate is held against rotative movement by providing, preferably, on its periphery, a lug mhwhich may rest within a slot a. formed in the sleeve a?. Between the guide plate m2 and the rear wall o i" the socket block f is interposed a spring a. Iii assembling the parts just described the block is inserted through the end ot the sleeve d2, followed by the spring a and the guide plate m2 is. then placed in position with the lug ms resting within' the kslot cr/Go'f the sleeve. The parts are held yieldingly in place by a plug cap o threaded in the open end of the sleeve, this plug being locked in position by means of a stud p passing through an air nular clamp p encircling the outer end oi the sleeve. The stud y). when in position, bears against the flat milled surface o ot'. the plug o in much the manner described in connectionwith the block c and stud '7c at the opposite end of the link.

From the description given it will be evident that there is provided in the improved` drag link only two movable socket blocks f, and that these blocks are so related to the associated elements as to transmit the steering-effort yieldingly, no mattei' in what direction the Vlink is moved. The guide plates h. fm2 are oit simple and inexpensive construction and of' such forni'asto ,permit the. ready assembling of the blocks l), f and their associated springs z', n, respectively. The blocks are held positively against rotation by engagement of the guide plates i, m2 with the bosses 7). f on the respective blocks, and yet the blocks are permitted to have free axial movement as is necessary for the transmission of the steering efortyield'- ingly. The one end block c is held adjustably, in position but cannot move, in use, this block constituting the end kplug for the sleeve a.' The other fixed block e is secured permanently against movement by the through-pin Z.

The improved elements of the combination will be set out iii the appended claims in such terms as will best indicate the scope o the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination with a drag link and ai'in operatively engaged therewith, a sleeve at one end. oit the drag link into which the arm extends, a block oi' less diameter than tiie sleeve slidably mounted in the sleeve and engaging the arm, a guide plate indepeiident or the sleeve and block and mounted in the sleeve, means to engage the block with the plate to hold the t-wo against relative rotation while permitting relative sliding movement, and means to hold the plate against rotation in the sleeve.

2. In combination with a drag link and steering arm operatively engaged therewith, a sleeve at one end oit' the drag link into which the arm extends, a block ot less diameter than the sleeve slidably mounted in the sleeve and engaging the arm, a boss eX- teiiding rearwarilly from the block, a guide plate independent of the sleeve and block and mounted in the sleeve and having an opening to receive the boss, means to engage the guide plate with the boss to hold the two against relative rotation while permitting relative sliding movement, and means to hold the plate against rotation in the sleeve.

3. In combination with a drag link and steering arm Voperatively engaged therewith, a sleeve at one end of the drag link into which the arm extends, a block ot less diameter than the sleeve slidably mounted in the sleeve and engaging the arm, a boss extending rearwardly from the block, a guide plate independent of the sleeve and block and mounted in the sleeve and having an opening to receive the boss, means to engage the guide plate with the boss to hold the two against relative rotation while permitting relative sliding movement, and a lug on the plate engaging the sleeve to hold the plate against rotation in the sleeve.

4. In combination with a drag link and Y arm operatively engaged therewith. a'sleeve at one end ot the drag link into which the arm extends, a Lblock of less diameter than the sleeve slidably mounted in the sleeve and engaging the arm, a. boss extending rearwardly from the block and having flat surfaces milled on its sides, a sheet metal stamped plate independent of the sleeve and block and having an opening to receive the boss and provided `with straight flanges to bearv against the flat surfaces of the boss, and a lug stamped out of the periphery of the plate to engage the sleeve to hold the plate against rotation in the sleeve.

5'. In combination with a drag link and arm operatively engaged'thei'ewith, a ball at the end of the arm, a sleeve at one end of the drag link in which the ball is disposed, two opposed socket blocks of less diameter than lv l.

the sleeve mounted Within the sleeve and engaging the ball, a boss extending rearwadly from one of the blocks!` a guide plate independent of the Sleeve and block and mount ed in the sleeve and having an opening to receive the boss, means to engage the boss with the plate to hold the two against 1ela tive rotation While permitting relative sliding movement, means to hold the pla-te against rotation in the sleeve, a spring oper- 10 atively interposed between the real' aee of the block and the plate, and means to secure the other of. said blocks in the sleeve and hold it against movement.

This specification signed this 8th day of 15 September, A. D. 1919.

CASCIOUS H. DE LA MONTE. 

